All staff of administrative departments and government-sponsored institutions got the increased salary from April 1, the minister said at a press conference sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council Thursday morning.

In addition to the monthly pay rise, those working in remote areas under poor conditions also got a special allowance, and those who pass the yearly assessment will be given a bonus equivalent to his monthly salary at the end of the year.

Xiang said that the pay rise program will benefit some 45 million people around the country and will add 80 billion yuan (US$9.6 billion) to the government fiscal expenditure.

(Xinhua 04/12/2001)